LP Lotion: Space Shuttle Endeavour Flies Over DisneylandPage 1 of 3

Posted September 24, 2012

The space shuttle Endeavour completed its final flight on Friday, September 21, landing at Los Angeles International Airport. The retired shuttle will be put on public display at the California Science Center.

Before that final landing, there were some flying visits to be made in the Los Angeles area, including the Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena, Griffith Observatory, the world famous Hollywood sign, and Los Angeles City Hall. For Disney fans, the prospect of seeing the shuttle pass over the Disneyland Resort proved irresistible. A large crowd hurried down to Anaheim, briefly snarling traffic on the I5 freeway and filling up every entrance lane in the parking structure. Crowds were spotted on the roof of the Mickey and Friends parking structure, in the entrance esplanade between the parks, and inside both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.

Despite the late summer heat, the crowd was upbeat and excited, as expectations (fueled by uncertainty over just exactly when and where the shuttle would appear) ran high. The dramatic appearance of the massive jet was greeted with a combination of cheers and awe. The low pass sent Endeavour almost directly over the center of Disneyland, with an encore pass just to the south of Disney California Adventure.